Bumps

Well, Estuardo came to pick me up to go to the school, so I could give more demonstrations to the teachers, but as we waited for the bus, I found out that today was examinations for the school. Sooo, I since I’d be just sitting around doing nothing while they took exams, I decided I could be more productive staying home. Poor Estuardo. He came all the way to my house to pick me up. Hehehe, oh well. Such is the value of thorough communication, something sorely lacking in Guatemala. So, I spent the day writing in my diary about my classes with the teachers, and got to edit some video footage. I went shopping later in the afternoon with Edgar, so now I have food again. I don’t think I’ve appreciated my car enough. What freedom I enjoy in America! What opportunity to grow and explore and learn and…well, everything! I think what I’m missing the most about America is the ability to take my belongings with me without fear of being robbed or putting myself at risk. I miss being able to walk around in public on my own, to explore the city without fear or danger. I miss being able to go to a bookstore, plop down in a comfy arm-chair and browse through hundreds of books on any topic I would want to learn about. I miss having internet access anywhere I go, so I could look up some tidbit of information I know Google would find for me in two clicks of a mouse. Then again, I don’t miss how fast life can be in America, and how independent I become once I settle into my routine. I can have so much—often times, more than I need—that I don’t realize how little I have invested in my relationships. That’s something I want to change when I go back home. Oh, tonight I had a little bump with my roomies. I was really tired after coming home from shopping and I’m not sure what else (I’m writing this from memory on August 26th), but I remember them telling me at about 10 or 11 pm that we would be staying up to clean the whole house for the arrival of Nancy and her daughter (some disciples from North Carolina who would be staying at our place a couple nights). Well, I didn’t have the best reaction, feeling a mixture of defensiveness at the way I was told this news, and a little selfish about my space and time. I went up to the roof to pray about my heart before talking to my roommates about a compromise. I didn’t want to just go to sleep while they stayed up and cleaned, but I felt upset at the late notice, and I admit feeling a little resentful; of all the roommates, no one cleaned the house more regularly than I did. For them to tell me we’d be cleaning, without even presenting it as a choice or request—or even acknowledging that I had already cleaned the kitchen that day—just made me angry. Still, after praying for mine and their hearts to change, I came back down and offered to clean the bathroom as I got ready for bed, as a sort of compromise. They said not to worry, and to just go to bed, though I could feel a sort of wall between us. I didn’t argue, but let the matter go until we all had slept and were in better places emotionally. Hasta mañana.